Petition Filed In Teen Shooting

July 21, 1989

LAKE COUNTY, IND. — The Lake County, Ind., prosecutor`s office Thursday filed a delinquency petition against the 14-year-old son of Merrillville`s fire chief stemming from the shooting of another teenager at the chief`s house on July 12.

In the petition, prosecutor Jon DeGuilio alleged that the youth committed criminal recklessness when he shot and wounded a 13-year-old companion in the abdomen. He said his office is still reviewing the case to see whether it is feasible to seek charges against the youth as an adult.

If the youth is tried as an adult, he could face a maximum sentence of 8 years in prison, DeGuilio said. But if the case remains in the juvenile court system, the youth could be remanded to a juvenile home until he is 18.